Cotton-seed delinter.



. P. F. KING.

COTTON SEED DBLINTER.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 13, 1909.

974,574 Patented Nov. 1,1910.

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P. F. KING.

COTTON SEED DELINTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV: 13, 1909.

Patented Nov; 1, 1910.

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,P. P. KING. COTTON SEED DELINTER.

APPLIOATIOR Hum nov. 13, 1909.

974,574. Patpnted Nov. 1,1910.

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P. F. KING.

COTTON SEED DELINTER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910 M 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

. @WEJQAoQ H lli wunuuwldl l V Amrflllfllldzllllllfllrl 1 S UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHINEAS F. KING,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LANNERT-KING- COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COTTON-SEED DELINTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHINEAS F. KING, citizen of the United States, andresident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Seed Delinters, of Whichthe following is a specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthat principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

As indicated, the present invention relates to a machine for delintingcotton seed, that is, for removing the lint or short fiber ends thatcling to the hulls of cotton seed, particularly; although it iscontemplated that there may be other seeds or similar objects requiringequivalent treatment, for the handling of which such machine will proveequally adaptable.

In designing the machine, it has been sought to provide one that whilehaving a large capacity, will be economical in the use of power, and,what is more important, will efleet the delinting of the seeds in auniformly thorough fashion and without crushing or breaking their hulls.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, con sists of the means hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machineembodying my present improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame as viewed from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear elevationthereof; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sec tion taken on the line44, Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5, Figs. 2 and 4;Fig. 6 is a sec tional view of a detail on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7 issimilarly a sectional View, more or less diagrammatic in character, ofanother detail, while Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate in transverse andlongitudinal section, respectively, a modified construct-ion of themachine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910. Serial No. 527,762.

It will be understood that in many locations it will be convenient tohave the delinting machine connected directly with the seed discharge ofthe gin, said delinting machine being then operated in effect, inconjunction with the gin. Irrespective, however, of whether the seed bethus supplied or be drawn from a general storage bin, it will bereceived in a hopper A mounted transversely of the forward end of themachine, from which hopper such seed is fed to the machine proper by asuitable feeding mechanism A, the details of which need not be herenoted, formin as they do, no part of the present invention. It willsuffice, accordingly, to say that by means of such feeding device, notonly are the seeds fed downwardly through the chute a, leadin to thedelinting machine, at a regular rate, but such feed is distributedevenly across the machine so that the several duplicate sets of partscomposing the machme are assured a uniform and even supply of materialto oper ate upon.

Turning to the delinting mechanism proper, two duplicate sets, orbatteries, of rolls are shown as being employed in the one illustrated.There is no necessary limitation, however, in this respect to theparticular number thus illustrated, since any number desired may beemployed depending upon the quantity of material to be handled in anygiven time. Each such battery in the preferred arrangement, comprisestwo upper easings B disposed side by side, within which is housed thedelinting mechanism proper, and a single lower casing B of conslderablylarger dimensions disposed below and parallel with said upper casings.The material from the feeding device is received at the front end of thepair of upper casings, and through them conveyed to their rear ends andthere transferred to the lower casing to be conveyed to the forward endof the machine whence the product of delinted seeds is discharged by achute b. The lint, however, that has been removed in the course of thetravel of the seeds in this fashion from one end of the machine to theother and back again, is removed by an air blast, preferably suction,through a suitable eonveyer tube B having branches 7) connected with therear ends of v against the inclosing casing lining.

the respective casings. The discharge chute b affords an air supplyopening for the lower casing, while duct 6 over the forward ends of theupper casings serve a like function in connection therewith.

The general form of the several casings B B, which in their details ofconstruction are alike, is a matter of indifference, but preferably theyare of the rectangular form shown, that being the simplest and mosteasily constructed, providing in efiect elongated boxes or closedtroughs. Suitably supported within each casing, is a lining shell 5 ofabrading material having a substantially cylindrical form. Preferably weuse as the materialfor such lining, a finely woven wire mesh or net, andthis lining is supported more or less free from the adjacent walls ofthe casing except at the points of support (see Fig. 5). Such lining,furthermore, is not strictly circular in transverse cross section, butas will be seen, by reference to Fig. 7, the lower and upper sectionsthereof are concentric with respect to axes, that while parallel arelocated the one slightly above the other.

Rotatably mounted within each casing, is a drum o that is preferablyconstructed of wood, but may be built up of metal or other suitablematerial, the respective ends of such drum being journaled in suitablebearings a as shown in Fig. 4. The axis of this drum coincides with thatof the lower portion of the casing lining, as result of which it will beseen that a larger clearance exists be tween the upper portion of suchlining and such drums surface than between the lower portion and drumssurface. Attached to said drum, is a plurality of resilient members 79disposed as shown in Fig. 4, which members are adapted to pressoutwardly These members are preferably composed of flaps or strips ofrubber coated fabric, similar to that found in ordinary hose, and are ofa sufficient degree of thickness, and stiffness to press outwardlyagainst the lining and rub thereagainst as the drum is rotated withinsuch casing. The preferred arrangement of these strips or flaps isillustrated in Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that they are disposedon a series of helical lines of increas ing pitch in successive sectionsof the drum from the front to the rear end thereof. By reason of theforegoing construction, when the seeds are introduced into the drum atthe feed end, they will not only be rubbed against the abrading materialthat lines the casing, when the drum is rotated, but they will also beadvanced longitudinally of said casing until they are finally ejected atthe rear end. Here they drop into the lower casing or through chute b,as the case may be. In the lower casing the flaps, or resilient membersare, of course, arranged to convey said seeds in a direction opposite tothat in the upper casings, incidentally to the abrasion or rubbing ofthem against its lin-- ing. l/Vhen said seeds are thus finallydischarged substantially every particle of lint has been rubbed off, andthe shell or hull given a finely polished appearance, all withoutendangering in the slightest, the integrity of the hull, or crushing thekernel, which of course, it is essential should remain intact.Simultaneously with the passage of the seed and the removal of the linttherefrom, such lint is "withdrawn by the suction conveyer tubesconnected with the rear ends of the respective casings. By disposing thelining of the casing taken in a transverse plane, at a variable radialdistance from the axis of the drum, the pressure of the resilient flapsagainst the seeds, is somewhat relieved in the upper portion of thecasing, and such seeds thus given an opportunity to roll over andreadjust themselves. In this way they are caused to present all sides tothe abrading action of the lining.

Owing to the perforated character of the abrading lining of the severalcasings, any particles of sand, grit, or like foreign material, such asare apt to be associated with the seeds when received by the machine,are given an opportunity to escape by falling through the mesh andv ontothe floor I) of the casing. To facilitate the removal of anyaccumulation of such dirt, said floor is provided with an openinglongitudinal thereof, and a dust-pan 6 as it may be styled, is securedtherebelow. By providing openings 5 in the respective ends of eachdust-pan, it is rendered a simple matter to blow out the dirt byinserting a hose from air supply at one end, while leaving the otherunobstructed.

It has not been deemed necessary to de scribe in detail the drivingconnections for the several sets of rolls composing the respectivebatteries. Power, however, in the machine as illustrated, is received bya driving pulley 0 on a shaft C transversely disposed of the machinenear its forward end, and from this shaft power is conveyed not only tosaid drums but also to the feeding mechanism a, which, as explained, islikewise disposed at the forward end of the machine. While it has beenfound in actual practice that an arrangement of rolls, such as we havedescribed as constituting a battery, provides a solid, compact andsatisfactory construction, it will be seen that the principle ofoperation exemplified in the arrangement of drum and easing, with theabrading material as a lining, is susceptible to various dispositionsother than such particular one illustrated. We should, hence, remarkthat it is a matter of indifl'erence so far as the principle of theinvention is concerned,whether a single casing and drum be thusemployed, or a plurality thereof, co-

operatively arranged, since by making a single drum of suitabledimensions, an equally satisfactory result in the way of delintin theseed is obtainable, and the question, ence remaining, is only one ofcapacity.

The modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 has beensuggested by practical experience with the form of mechanism alreadydescribed, for it has been found that if the proper kind of mesh be usedto form the abrading lining of the several casings, not merely will dirtand like heavier material pass through such lining into the inclosingbox, but also the lint, or fine cotton fiber, that is removed from theseeds. Accordingly instead of inclosing the several lining cylinders orshells within boxes, more or less closely approaching the same, saidcylinders may be supported in the open, or preferably, as shown in thefigures referred to, within a large general inclosure B, so that thelint thus escaping may be collected and withdrawn not from the easingsdirect, but from such inclosure. The lining cylinder we findsufficiently stiff to require no support intermediate of its ends savethat afforded by bars 6 that serve to retain the adjacent edges of thetwo sections of such lining cylinder together. These bars with theircorresponding sections are preferably detachably secured together sothat they may be entirely removed and the drum 5 within thus leftuncovered, when desired.

The general course of the seeds, in passing through the machine, isexactly the same at the forward ends of the several upper liningcylinders, and thence pass rearwardly where they are collected fromadjacent pairs of such lining cylinders and passed forwardly through alower cylinder. Any suitable means may be employed for removing thelint, but preferably an air blast admitted at the front end, or an airsuction connected at the rear end, of the general inclosing casing B isutilized for this purpose.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of tlze one explained, change being made as regards themechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combinationwith an outer shell of abrading material, of a device extendinglongitudinally in said shell, a plurality of series of members carriedby said device, the members of each series being arranged longitudinallyof said device and each of said members having an outer and an innerportion, the outer portion being adapted to wipe ag gainst the innersurface of the shell and being extended substantially concentric withthe shell when the latter is empty of seed, and the inner portion ofsaid member connecting the outer portion with the said device, saidinner portion having a resilient part for pressing the said outerportion against the shell, and means for producing a relative rotativemovement between the shell and the said device;

2. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with an outershell of abrading material, of a device extending longitudinally in saidshell, a plurality of series of members carried by said device, themembers of each series being arranged in a general helical fashion aboutsaid device and each of said members having an outer and an innerportion, the outer portion being adapted to wipe against the innersurface of the shell and being extended substantially concentric withthe shell when the latter is empty of seed, and the inner portion ofsaid member connecting the outer portion with the said device, saidinner portion having a resilient part for pressing the said outerportion against the shell, and means for producing a relative rotativemovement between the shell and the said device.

3. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination of a shell ofabrading material, a drum rotatable within said shell, and a pluralityof series of resilient members carried by said drum and having extendedbearing surfaces that are adapted to press the seeds against said shell,said bearing surfaces being substantially concentric with the shell, andcontacting therewith while the shell is empty of seed, and theindividual members in each series being movable toward and from the drumindependently of the other members of the series.

4. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination of a shell ofabrading material, a drum rotatable within said shell, and a pluralityof series of resilient members carried by said drum and having lateralsurfaces arranged substantially parallel to said shell and adapted topress the seeds against said shell, said members of each series beingarran ed in a general helical fashion about said drum, whereby theyserve to simultaneously advance such seeds longitudinally of said shell,and the bearing surface of each member being substantially concentricwith the shell and contacting therewith when the latter is empty ofseed.

5. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a shellof abrading material, of a rotatable device within said shell, aplurality of series of members carried by said device, said membershaving outer portions that are adapted to wipe against the in- & 974,574

ner surface of the shell and that are extended substantially concentricwith the shell when the latter is empty of seed, and inner portionsconnecting the outer portions with the said rotatable device, said innerportions having a resilient part for pressing the said outer portionsagainst the shell, for the purpose specified, the individual members ineach series being movable toward and from the device independently ofthe other members in the series.

6. In. a machine of the class described, the combination of a shell ofabrading material, a drum rotatable within said shell, and a pluralityof flaps of resilient material attached to said drum and doubled over soas to present a lateral surface substantially parallel to and againstsaid shell, whereby the seeds to be cleaned may be rolled between saidflaps and shell.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a shell ofabrading material, a drum rotatable within said casing, and a pluralityof flaps of resilient material attached to said drum and doubled over soas. to present a lateral surface substantially parallel to and againstsaid shell, whereby the seeds to be cleaned may be rolled between saidflaps and shell, said flaps being arranged in a general helical fashionabout said drum, whereby they serveto simultaneously advance such seedslongitudinally of said shell.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a shell ofabrading material, a drum rotatable within said shell, and a pluralityof longitudinally extending series of flaps of resilient materialcarried by said drum and bent so as to present a lateral surfacesubstantially parallel to said shell, and adapted to press seeds againstsaid shell, said flaps being arranged on helical lines of increasingpitch in successive sections of said drum.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a shell of abrading material,

a drum rotatable within said shell, and a plurality of longitudinallyextending series of flaps of resilient material attached to the surfaceof said drum and doubled over so as to present a lateral surfacesubstantially parallel to and against said shell, whereby the seeds tobe cleaned may be rolled between said flaps and shell, said flaps beingarranged on helical lines of increasing pitch in successive sections ofsaid drum.

Signed by me this 14th day of October,

ANNA L. GILL, JNo. F. OBERLIN.

